Replay: Chat with Wolverines beat writer Mark Snyder

Mark answered readers' questions Sept. 26, 2013

I'm here and ready to roll. Hit me with your Michigan football and basketball questions.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 2:59:38 PM

Isn't it really a blessing in disguise to have U of Ms problems exposed so early in the season? Had they blown out some cupcake team 76 - 0 last weekend, most of the present problems would be masked until exposed in games that really count.

by Jleed9/26/2013 2:59:51 PM

That's certainly optimistic of you. Though I'm not sure I can agree with that stretch. It's positive for Michigan to know what it needs to work on, but facing smaller issues in blowouts is always preferable. This team has significant issues but has the bye week to refine them.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:01:37 PM

When Wolverines win a BCS bowl, will all the naysayers shut up and apologize??? geesh!!

by smacktalker9/26/2013 3:01:41 PM

I'd guess not. If you remember, U-M won a BCS bowl less than two years ago. People are passionate, I get it.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:02:24 PM

When will Green get a chance to become the next A-train??

by smacktalker9/26/2013 3:02:29 PM

When Fitz Toussaint needs a break. Offensive coordinator Al Borges wants to get the younger backs, Derrick Green and Deveon Smith, more carries but in tight games, he's going to trust who he can and that's Fitz Toussaint. So far Toussaint has been solid and productive behind a problematic offensive line. He's not fumble-prone and can block well enough. When someone else proves they can do that, they'll get a chance.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:04:30 PM

Is Borges on the hotseat? Is he sweating bullets rite now??

by TodShelby9/26/2013 3:04:33 PM

Nope. His offense scored 100 points the first two weeks and 28 with 425 yards of offense in week 3. Last week was filled with problems and they still scored 24 points. Borges is fine.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:05:28 PM

Are teams playin hard to beat us or are we a haunted team that is struggling?

by MImadman9/26/2013 3:05:36 PM

Wow, "haunted"? We still have a month until Halloween... Akron and Connecticut are definitely playing hard and pinpointing the U-M game, which may show the younger Wolverines not matching their intensity. The Michigan coaches have pointed to improved fundamentals this week.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:07:37 PM

In your opinion, will anyone not named Frank Clark step up ont he defensive line following the bye week?

by Jeff9/26/2013 3:07:44 PM

There's potential among some of the younger linemen, like Willie Henry, Chris Wormley and Ondre Pipkins drawing praise from the coaches. If U-M can get to the point where there's more push from those big guys up the middle, you'll see more sacks and tackles for loss from the ends. Look at what opponents are doing to U-M's offense. Same thing.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:09:28 PM

Is Gardner trying to be Shoelace or is the O-line not doing its job?

by Centervilefool9/26/2013 3:09:35 PM

A little of both. The offensive line has not held the way many hoped, especially up the middle with the younger players. So that sends Gardner scrambling. The problem is, at that point, he needs to get rid of the ball. Look at the UConn game when he took 30 yards of sacks on just two plays during one series. That can't happen.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:11:22 PM

Mark, do you think there is any chance that the wolverines will try Shane Morris at QB if DG's passing and decision making doesn't improve?

by MichaelBofTCTC9/26/2013 3:11:37 PM

No. Gardner's talent, potential and experience is the reason Michigan's offense is explosive -- Toussiant is a good but not great back and none of the receivers are stars -- so he's the key to any run at a Big Ten title. Morris is a true freshman, progressing as he should be but not ready to lead a team competing for a title.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:12:59 PM

Hi Mark, seems Michigan needs a QB coach. The mistakes Gardner is making are a repeat of Robinson last year and that is concerning as it speaks to coaching. Any word on the potential to bring someone in at this point? I agree with Borges that his mistakes can be fixed but we need someone suited for this instead of being fed the same line as last year concerning footwork.

by Charlie9/26/2013 3:13:40 PM

I don't think they'll be bringing in a quarterback coach, at least not during the season. Al Borges has coached quarterbacks his whole career and had success with many including Cade McNown and Jason Campbell. You have a problem with his line about footwork? This is a different player he's coaching, one who has a bigger passing arm so maybe the results will be different.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:15:26 PM

Do you think that Blake Countess is worthy of All-American consideration?

by D.A.29/26/2013 3:15:27 PM

Not yet. Countess has been solid but we'll see what happens when he starts facing bigger receivers in Big Ten play. If he's still making a pick a game at that point, we'll see progress.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:16:17 PM

Is Devin Gardner still the best wide receiver on the team?

by D.A.29/26/2013 3:16:22 PM

Ummm.... Jeremy Gallon had that impressive Notre Dame game and has done well since Gardner moved to quarterback. But having an athletic wideout with speed on the outside -- like Amara Darboh, who is out this season with a foot injury -- would certainly help. But it makes more sense to have Gardner at quarterback.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:17:58 PM

With the arrival of Jake Butt why hasn't Devin Funchess been moved to wide out. The kid is tall, but skinny for a TE. That would cause match up problems in any secondary

by Tyriqq9/26/2013 3:18:08 PM

U-M still plays a lot of two tight end sets and Funchess allegedly has improved as a blocker. I'm not necessarily buying that, but he has the frame to put on more weight. Michigan can and will use him split out in certain sets and, realizing no receivers are dominating, that may happen. But they'll need Butt and A.J. Williams to play more plays than they currently are to move Funchess around.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:19:50 PM

Mark am I wrong by thinking that a big ten title is out of the picture. The way this team is playing we will be lucky to win 7 or 8 games this year in my opinion.do you agree

by Hamtramck9/26/2013 3:20:01 PM

Considering they already have four, I think at least eight. Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, those are are very winnable and the Wolverines should grab at least a few out of Penn State, MSU, Ohio State and Nebraska. That puts them in the 9-10 range. Focusing on just the past two games and ignoring the first two seems short-sighted.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:22:01 PM

Mark, Drew Sharp answered an online question during his " hour long jail stay" that Devon Gardner wants out of Michigan quickly assuming no extra year . Can you elaborate with your thoughts?

by Buckeye 99/26/2013 3:22:22 PM

I think putting Drew in a pretend jail isn't the worst thing (kidding, kidding). I love Drew. As for Gardner, his Michigan return is definitely a question mark, if only because he has the option. He will have spent four years in Ann Arbor, got his degree in 3 and with a year of graduate school under his belt. If he leaves to pursue the NFL, does that mean he wants out of Ann Arbor? Not necessarily. It may mean he's ready for the NFL. Or he may return because he loves it so much. It's tough to predict in September.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:25:06 PM

Does UM beat MSU in EL this year? I have a feeling that UM is going to have a hard time running against MSU>

by Hank9/26/2013 3:25:21 PM

For the Wolverines to win that game, the offensive line will have to make major strides. That game is won at the line of scrimmage and by running the ball, a combination where U-M needs a lot of work. There are some teams that can be attacked through the air but Michigan State's secondary is very strong, so I bet that's a week for the air raid.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:26:42 PM

Mark is the passing game going get better gallon is the only wideout other than funchess with all the targets

by Detroit,Michigan guy9/26/2013 3:27:06 PM

They need Gardner to be more accurate -- his completion percentage is plummeting, even outside of the turnovers. And they need to find a second receiver so that Jeremy Gallon is not bracketed by defenses.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:28:07 PM

Why has no one called out Taylor Lewan on his promise of the team not coming out flat again after Akron? He is old enough to be responsible for his words and as he said he is responsible as a senior leader and they obviously laid another egg in Connecticut.

by Frank9/26/2013 3:28:09 PM

Call him out for what? Just because Michigan played a close game at Connecticut doesn't mean they were flat. The defense was impressive the whole game and a shut down unit in the second half, not allowing an offensive touchdown. The offense was continually stunted by three turnovers. So Lewan is responsible for Gardner's three turnovers?

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:30:14 PM

I can see Devin Gardner getting things together during the off week, but can they really solve any of the O-line's issues in that amount of time? I've heard a lot about maybe getting Chris Bryant in there, but it seems like if he was healthy enough he'd have played by now. Is a one-week break really sufficient time to work a new guy on there, or is it just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?

by Ryan9/26/2013 3:30:27 PM

The offensive line, particularly the center, will remain under scrutiny until there's a change (maybe moving Graham Glasgow to the middle and Bryant, as you said, to left guard). Having two weeks gives them this week to evaluate and next week to begin to jell if there's a change. If not, it gives the current unit an opportunity to get more comfortable with each other.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:32:10 PM

How much of a change should we expect to see in the secondary with tighter coverage instead of keepin it in front?? With avery back and everyone healthy in the secondary for the bye week, this seems like a great time to run more press coverages.

by David from Dundee9/26/2013 3:32:26 PM

If you watched last game, Avery got beat over the top on a touchdown that was brought back, so that's not flawless. Greg Mattison wants the cornerbacks to play tighter, but none of the three -- Countess, Avery or Taylor -- is a big, physical presence or a speedster, so alternating the looks works well.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:34:08 PM

I don't see many posts lately pushing DG for Heisman. Do you think he got caught up in the hype and is trying to do to much. It sure seems like his body is working faster than his mind.

by Murphy9/26/2013 3:34:22 PM

Trying to push the envelope is Gardner's nature. He's spent his whole football life creating plays when they were not there with his athleticism, but it's tougher in college because the defenses close faster. He's still figuring that out. Whether he's caught up in the hype, I don't think that really affects a player during the game.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:36:07 PM

Seems like only a matter of time before M is not able to overcome mistakes, which team do you think knocks them off first?

by Dave9/26/2013 3:36:17 PM

Before the season I was set that the game at MSU would be Michigan's first loss. Now, I think the Oct. 12 Penn State game may be a challenge. The key there will be whether the defensive line has become more powerful in these two weeks. With a freshman QB, Penn State has succeeded and trying to rattle him may be the best way to play that game. It will also be a rough environment for the young Wolverines.

by Mark Snyder9/26/2013 3:37:59 PM

mark, who will be the starting point guard when the basketball season tip off?

by Jay9/26/2013 3:38:06 PM

Probably Spike Albrecht to start the season, just because he has a familiarity with the offense and the coaches trust him. By the time U-M gets to Iowa State on Nov. 17, Derrick Walton will probably have the ball but still sharing time with Albrecht, maybe even playing together in spurts.